Family Life:Turkey vultures breed once a year between March and June and lay up to 3 eggs after a a 30-40 day incubation period. The chicks gain their flight feathers within 80 days and are independent by 90 days.

Status:Common, protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

True or false? Engineers have been known to use a bird’s sense of smell to detect leaks in natural gas pipelines.

True: Engineers will use Turkey vultures (Cathartes Aura) to detect leaks in natural gas lines with their amazing sense of smell. They pump a gas called ethyl mercaptan into pipelines. This is the gas produced by decaying carrion. Turkey vultures home in on the scent escaping from leaks.